Sources of Funding

Welsh Sports Association Funding

Overseas Expedition Grants
This scheme helps fund overseas expeditions which will enhance the development of a sport.  Grants are limited to a contribution of up to 50% of the estimated costs of travel, safety equipment and other essential materials.  Expeditions must be ground-breaking and priority will be given to Welsh based expeditions where the majority of members are Welsh.

Sports Safety Grant
A scheme to assist national sports safety organisations, sports safety clubs and rescue teams to provide safety and rescue cover for people taking part in recreational activities in the natural environment. Eligible activities include capital schemes, replacement of specialist equipment and special projects to raise participation and/or standards. Maximum grants awarded are 75% of total project costs to a limit of £7,500 for capital expenditure and £2,500 for revenue expenditure. 

Sports Council for Wales
The Sports Council for Wales operates a number of funding schemes that aim to increase participation and improve performance in Welsh sport.  Further detailed information on the grant schemes and eligibility criteria is included in the relevant guidelines available from the Sports Council.

Coach Cymru
A Welsh Assembly Government and Lottery Sports Fund for Wales funded scheme, providing funds for the training, support and employment of coaches.

Élite Cymru
Providing the most highly promising athletes in Wales with the support they need to achieve their potential. This could include sports science support, medical back-up, career and education advice, coaching and access to training facilities. Applications for support are considered only for those sports and activities recognised by the Sports Council for Wales.

Minor Grants
Providing funding for projects that create new, additional or improved opportunities to play sport. The scheme is used widely to encourage individuals, families and communities to become more active. Total project costs cannot exceed £12,500.

SPORTLOT Community Chest
A National Lottery funded grant scheme aimed at developing sport at grass roots level, particularly for young people, women and girls and disadvantaged groups. Decision-making for grants below £1,000 is carried out at a local level. Committees have been established in each of the 22 Welsh local authorities, made up of local people with knowledge of sport in the area.

Sportsmatch Cymru
A scheme providing a vital link between the commercial sector and the development of grass-roots sport, offering sports clubs and governing bodies support with projects that increase grass-roots participation, by match '£ for £' investment by the private sector.

Dickie Bird Foundation
Support for individuals and organisations throughout Great Britain with the aim of helping disadvantaged young people (under the age of 18) to participate in sport, to the best of their ability, in the sport of their choice, irrespective of their social circumstances, culture or ethnicity.  By participating in sporting activities, it is hoped that health will be improved, physical education will be advanced, and chances both inside and outside sport will be enhanced. Maximum grant: £5,000.

Foundation for Sport and the Arts Grants
Assistance in the UK to further athletic sports, athletic games, recreation and the arts to improve the quality of life for the community, with a particular emphasis on encouraging active participation by young people. Maximum grants of £75,000. Exclusions: Professional football and horse racing.

Lord's Taverners Foundation
Funding available to encourage young people with disabilities to participate in sporting activities with the provision of manual sports wheelchairs, specially adapted minibuses and the support of the game of cricket at grass roots level.

Peter Harrison Foundation
The Foundation’s Opportunities through Sport programme accepts applications from projects which provide opportunities for people who are disabled or otherwise disadvantaged to fulfil their potential and to develop other personal and life skills. This Programme is a nationwide one and applications are accepted from charities throughout the United Kingdom. Grants are often ‘one off’ grants for capital projects but the Foundation also considers revenue funding for a new project or if funding is key to the continuing success or survival of an established project.

The Millennium Stadium
Charitable Trust Grant Scheme Funding is available to voluntary, not-for-profit and charitable organisations.  The grant scheme focuses on four key areas: sport, environment, the arts and the community. Although all organisations will be considered on their merit, priority will be given to organisations that provide for people who are disadvantaged by age, gender, disability, ethnicity or social and economic circumstance. Maximum grant: Local organisations £2,000; regional organisations £10,000; national organisations £20,000.

Sport Relief
A Comic Relief programme aimed at using sport as a means to bring young people together. The grant is distributed through the Community Foundation in Wales. Maximum grant: £5,000.

Winston Churchill Memorial Trust
The Trust offers opportunities to increase experience through overseas travel in order to benefit others within the community.  The grant includes return travel, daily living, internal travel and appropriate insurance.  The average grant given out is approximately £5,300, covering a stay of betrween 4-8 weeks.  Sport has now been added as a category for 2009.